No calories in Vodka? Really?

In the lead up to the weekend we thought we share an article about the “no-calories myth”, as seen in Body and Soul, written by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.

“One of the big nutrition issues is how many calories are in alcohol. But don’t worry, people say, because vodka has zero calories.

After all, the myth claims, vodka has no carbs – and therefore it has no calories. But while the word ‘vodka’ does come from the Russian word ‘voda’ meaning ‘water’, the truth is that alcohol does contain energy. Gram for gram, the energy content of alcohol (seven calories) is alot more than carbs (four calories), and only a little less than fat (nine calories).

Alcoholic drinks are mostly made up of water. Beer is 95 per cent water, with carbs and alcohol making up the rest. Vodka is about 50 per cent water and 50 per cent alcohol. All alcoholic drinks (including ‘low carb’ beers) have about 95 to 145 calories – alot more if you add sweeteners and creams.

On the other hand, if you have a few vodkas, you probably won’t worry about the calories. The worry about gaining weight is quickly dispelled by your increased lightheadedness.”

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki features in Body and Soul regularly.

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139 Comments

- - mom268263 said
  - 30 Nov 2020
    5:38 am
Very interesting article and information. I do think the sugars in some drinks can change your metabolism if a regular drinker and it impacts your weight.

- - Jbuttxx said
  - 26 Jan 2020
    5:20 am
Never heard this myth but knew the calories were more, I’d rather eat my calories

- - mom112217 said
  - 11 Aug 2016
    3:53 pm
I have never heard about this myth,oh well!

- - mom81879 said
  - 29 Sep 2015
    12:26 pm
I know what they mean when they say “don’t drink your calories” now! Wow, just wow

- - dannsbuild said
  - 23 Sep 2015
    8:09 pm
A really interesting article! Thank for this read!

- - crystalangela said
  - 08 Aug 2015
    11:02 pm
Oh no! Myth busted. Now I have to take booze into consideration for my calories again!
Kidding.
Always did.

- - Kell said
  - 21 Jun 2015
    10:40 am
Well back to water martinis for now

- - mom103161 said
  - 15 Apr 2015
    2:05 pm
Water and air are my only options now haha

- - pakeko said
  - 27 Feb 2015
    8:47 pm
Lol it is funny the things we believe

- - mom109463 said
  - 30 Jan 2015
    7:16 am
Well there goes that plan, I always put it down to the orange juice that I mixed with it!! Think I really knew but was in denial!! Oh well all in moderation, will have to cut back somewhere else, LOL

- - mom57808 said
  - 04 Nov 2014
    12:57 am
OH BUGGA CALORIES NOOOO
- mom94125 replied
  
  06 Jan 2015 , 12:53 am
  here….. let me emphasize that for you NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! LOL
- - shortaez said
  - 31 Oct 2014
    10:57 pm
Im not a vodka fan at all

- - pakeko said
  - 30 Aug 2014
    9:20 pm
haha never heard this myth but a light hearted read

- - BellaB said
  - 24 Aug 2014
    8:17 pm
I must admit I’d never heard this myth – I thought everything had calories (except broken biscuits – they’ve leaked out).
- june11 replied
  
  11 Feb 2016 , 9:42 pm
  That’s exactly what one of my work colleagues always said at morning tea time if she got a broken biscuit out of the packet. A good excuse to have another one. A “big” problem if the pack has been dropped and then rolled around in the boot of the car hen she drove around bends and corners. Because she is diabetic we used to have to confiscate the packet.
- - ginoula5 said
  - 12 Aug 2014
    1:13 pm
If it’s not just plain water then it more than likely has calories haha

- - skbou said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    5:40 pm
lol, yes I think that after a number of them you wouldn’t be thinking about calories at all.

- - twinmum2 said
  - 31 May 2014
    7:37 pm
I thought all alcohol contains calories.

- - twinmum2 said
  - 31 May 2014
    7:37 pm
I thought all alocohol contains calories.

- - mom57522 said
  - 29 May 2014
    7:49 pm
All alcohol has some calories

- - rachaelchara said
  - 26 May 2014
    1:44 pm
Thanks for sharing was interesting reading.